ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Indica]

Something like this?


EDIT: I just thought of the size of farm and came up with about dimensions that would fit me. The base of farm (The actual area where ants can move) would be about 960cm², they height would be about 30 cm, so it would be pretty much similar to 30x30x30cm box. ANTSTORE suggest at least 20x20x30, so I think I would be just fine with these dimensions to start with?

[mpir]

I like the different approach to the farm. Very different to what we are used seeing around here. Let us know if it works out.

off topic: what program do you use for 3D modeling?

[Indica]

I like the different approach to the farm. Very different to what we are used seeing around here. Let us know if it works out.

off topic: what program do you use for 3D modeling?

Thanks:)

I use Maya 2008. Very, very easy program once you get it. Last time I used it was about half a year ago, and that was when I first used it, only for about week or two, had this crazy project with some friends.. soon realized that truly mastering 3D will take a lot longer and quited learning it. But for easy stuff like this farm it's just excelent..

[miszt]

that farm should work nice a few things tho...

I would replace the 'dry land loam' in the foraging area with Clay Aggregate, otherwise the ants will more than likly build their nest in it, also the 'regular dirt' and dry sand are more than likly going to end up being nested in, unless you use a very thin layer, maybe 5mm, this should be no problem for the grass to grow in...however...

grass, i'm not sure you realize how long grass grows in the wild, it grows very long! yes you can cut it, but you dont really want bits of dead grass in the tank, it will rot slowly, with no other insects to clean it up, unless you are going to look into some insects to include with the ants


30x30x30cm is to small imo, the nesting area can be about this, and the foraging area needs to be about the same, so double that to 60cm wide, and it should be ok

remeber to include connoctors incase the colony gets to big, or somthing happens that means u need to move your colony to a new setup

how are you planning on sealing the wood from the water? even a tiny amount of water will warp the wood, crack your glass and lead to a bit of a disaster...

[SteveUK28]

Ive just thought of something else aswell... Obviously your gonna have to move this come hibernation... Moving a soil/sand farm is VERY dangerous as the tunnels can collapse.. which could potentialy be a disaster...
Another idea for you to consider.. if you want them to stay in the narrow part first.. why not just add a seperator.. a thin slide of glass or plastic so they cant get past it.. they would have no choice but to nest in the thiner side then.. you could also add a connecter to the thinner side so it could connect to an outworld... Just a few thoughts
Steve

[Indica]

that farm should work nice a few things tho...

I would replace the 'dry land loam' in the foraging area with Clay Aggregate, otherwise the ants will more than likly build their nest in it, also the 'regular dirt' and dry sand are more than likly going to end up being nested in, unless you use a very thin layer, maybe 5mm, this should be no problem for the grass to grow in...however...

grass, i'm not sure you realize how long grass grows in the wild, it grows very long! yes you can cut it, but you dont really want bits of dead grass in the tank, it will rot slowly, with no other insects to clean it up, unless you are going to look into some insects to include with the ants


30x30x30cm is to small imo, the nesting area can be about this, and the foraging area needs to be about the same, so double that to 60cm wide, and it should be ok

remeber to include connoctors incase the colony gets to big, or somthing happens that means u need to move your colony to a new setup

how are you planning on sealing the wood from the water? even a tiny amount of water will warp the wood, crack your glass and lead to a bit of a disaster...

Hmm.. you mean the yellow part, to replace it with clay aggregate? I was thinking that if the narrow parts gets too small for them, they could move on to the wider part by digging to yellow part, which I at first leave dry, and once the narrow part gets too small I will make more moist and damp so they could expand there. I know this is thinking too much forward and I cant predict what ants are going to do. But.. I can try. I cant see why it wont work at the moment really, as I wont leave any access to underground on the bigger side.. except the grass part, but I could make like you said.. make the dirt part like 0.5-1cm and under that make a clay 'wall' so they cant really dig there too.

The grass is really least thing I'm worried about. I guess I could just grab the tips of grass, cut the tips and just take them out.. I do know how long grass can grow, trust me.. we have this country side place where we go at summer, rarely any other time, and every time we go there first time in summer, I have to cut this grass.. lucky we can see the roof of the house inside the grass

I cant really make it much bigger.. I mean, I could make the "Big room" with more depth, but then it would be too hard to move if needed. I could make the narrow part wider, like 6cm.. but that wouldn't give too much extra room (I already changed it from 2cm to 3.5 cm, as 2cm would have only given 0.5cm room for me to access there, which obviously isn't enough). Already thought of later need for extension as well.
If anyone has some ideas how to make it bigger and still making it moveable then please let me know.

To protect the wood from water I would have covered it with 0.5mm thick coat of clay and sealing it between clay and glass with silicone.

[JimmyVe]

Maybe sometimes later, never liked the idea of publishing too much info about myself on-line.. But maybe some day

Thanks

You're free to do this.

About your farm, i must say i like your commitment. I like the farm to. Nice pictures.

Yes it would be better to replace the yellow part with clay aggregate, that way the ants can not dig in it and make there nest there.
Ore a very small layer, if you keep Lasius niger in it, they have enough place in a layer of 1 cm to keep there nest in. When the colony is small, if it gets bigger they need more room.

To start with i don't think you need to make it bigger, just make sure you could expand it if needed. To move you can always move the farm and the expanded piece separate.




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Thanks !

[Indica]

About your farm, i must say i like your commitment. I like the farm to. Nice pictures.

Thanks

Maybe sometimes later, never liked the idea of publishing too much info about myself on-line.. But maybe some day

Thanks

Yes it would be better to replace the yellow part with clay aggregate, that way the ants can not dig in it and make there nest there.
Ore a very small layer, if you keep Lasius niger in it, they have enough place in a layer of 1 cm to keep there nest in. When the colony is small, if it gets bigger they need more room.

To start with i don't think you need to make it bigger, just make sure you could expand it if needed. To move you can always move the farm and the expanded piece separate.

I think I explained myself baddly, I WANT them to dig into yellow part, I just want them to have nest entrance in the narrow part.

Here's what I thought:





Basically just create kind of a shield on the big room's surfase, but make them able to move there under the shield.

[JimmyVe]

So if i understand it correctly, you want them to use the left part first and if they get bigger they can also use the right part. So in the first phase they are only in the left part, how do you feed them than ? If they can not go in to the out world ? (right part) Ore am i missing something ?




Let us know who you are,
here.
Thanks !

[Indica]

So if i understand it correctly, you want them to use the left part first and if they get bigger they can also use the right part. So in the first phase they are only in the left part, how do you feed them than ? If they can not go in to the out world ? (right part) Ore am i missing something ?




Let us know who you are,
here.
Thanks !

Umm, I'll place the food to the narrow part. I think I will make it wider, like 5 cm, then I can easily place it there.

[JimmyVe]

You could but still it would be hard to remove the food and give them new food. Not that it is impossible, just harder than in a bigger out world.




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Thanks !

[Indica]

You could but still it would be hard to remove the food and give them new food. Not that it is impossible, just harder than in a bigger out world.




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Thanks !

It's just for a short time and I really don't think it would be a problem I mean.. The sand will be almost to the top, so you don't have to reach the food to the bottom. Nothing you couldn't handle with a pair of tweezers and a dropper..

[JimmyVe]

In that case.
Good luck building the farm, post some pictures if it is ready.

(btw: you don't always need to quote. )




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Thanks !

[Indica]

Just wanted to say that it looks like this needs to wait I simply have another plans which take all the money I have. As I don't work or anything I don't have frequent income and I simply cant find money for materials and tools needed at the moment.

Its definitely in my "To-do" list, and hopefully I can make it @ spring or summer. I will keep ya'll updated when I do

[JimmyVe]

Well we hope you could make it soon so you can enjoy the keeping of ants. Sure do keep us updated.